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Market Tracks U.S. Higher

Updated April 17, 1998 1:43 p.m. ET

PARIS -- Stocks broke a streak of consecutive losing sessions to finish slightly higher Friday, helped by a positive opening on Wall Street and a slight recovery in the dollar's exchange rate against the French franc.

The CAC 40 Index of most actively traded stocks rose 15.64 to 3861.58.

Concerns about an increase in German interest rates weighed on sentiment in the morning. The Bundesbank's policy-setting council ended up leaving rates unchanged at its biweekly meeting, laying the groundwork for an afternoon rally.

Technology shares pulled the CAC 40 back into positive territory. The top three gainers on the day were technology shares. Computer maker Bull posted the biggest gain, up 3.9 French francs to 73.9 francs. Computer consultant Cap Gemini rose 38 francs to 750 francs, while chip-maker
SGS Thomson Microelectronics
climbed 20.3 francs to 481.3 francs.

After gaining earlier in the week on the flurry of mergers in the U.S., banking stocks were hit with a bout of profit-taking. Seven of the session's top 10 decliners were banks.

Market Tracks U.S. Higher

PARIS -- Stocks broke a streak of consecutive losing sessions to finish slightly higher Friday, helped by a positive opening on Wall Street and a slight recovery in the dollar's exchange rate against the French franc.